The new school of French history is in its glory. Calling itself “new,” however, was only an advertising gimmick in a consumer society, as the Annales school recently commemorated its ancestors and their ancient battles in a 1979 golden anniversary. Its roots trace back to the period between the two World Wars when die journal Annales d'histoire économique et social was first published. Since dien, this school has come to occupy a hegemonic position among historians. If there is anything new, (...) it is above all its assault on the media. Lacking any valid adversaries, the Annales historians went after all the media strongholds. (shrink)